USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Gwynedd > Historical collections relating to Gwynedd, a township of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, settled, 1696, by immigrants from Wales, with some data referring to the adjoining township, of Montgomery, also settled by Welsh > Part 26
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SECOND DAY, MORN., November Ist.2
To-day the militia marches, and the General and officers leave us. Heigh ho ! I am very sorry ; for when you have been with agreeable peo-
1 John Roberts's, in Whitpain, a short distance away.
2 Second day,-Monday,-was November 3d. The dates here are two days wrong, and as the reader may perceive for himself, are inconsistent with those heretofore given, which were one day wrong.
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ple, 'tis impossible not to feel regret when they bid you adieu, perhaps for ever. When they leave us we shall be immur'd in solitude. The Major looks dull.
SECOND DAY, NOON.
About two o'clock the General and Major came to bid us adieu. With daddy and mammy they shook hands very friendly ; to us they bow'd politely. Our hearts were full. I thought the Major was affected. "Good- bye, Miss Sally," spoken very low. We stood at the door to take a last look, all of us very sober. The Major turn'd his horse's head, and rode back, dismounted. "I have forgot my pistols," pass'd us, and ran up- stairs. He came swiftly back to us, as if wishing, through inclination, to stay ; by duty compell'd to go. He remounted his horse. " Farewell, ladies, till I see you again," and canter'd away. We look'd at him till the turn in the road hid him from our sight. "Amiable major," "Clever fellow," " Good young man," was echoed from one to the other. I wonder if we shall ever see him again. He has our wishes for his safety.
Well, here's Uncle Miles.1 Heartily glad of that am I. His family are well, and at Reading.
SECOND DAY, EVEN.
Jesse, who went with the General, return'd. We had a compliment from the General and Major. They are very well disposed of at Evan Meredith's, six miles from here. I wrote to P. F.,2 by Uncle Miles, who waited on General Washington next morn.
THIRD DAY, MORN.
It seems strange not to see our house as it used to be. We are very still. No rattling of waggons, glittering of musquets. The beating of the distant drum is all we hear. Colonels Wood, Line, Guest, and Major Leatherberry are still here ; the two last leave to-day. Wood and Line will soon bid us adieu. Amiable Wood ; he is esteem'd by all that know him ! Everybody has a good word for him.
Here I skip a week or two, nothing of consequence occurring. (Wood and Line are gone.) Some time since arriv'd two officers, Lieutenants Lee and Warring, Virginians. I had only the salutations of the morn from
1 Colonel Samuel Miles, of the Pennsylvania troops in the Revolutionary army. His wife was Catharine Wister, sister of Miss Sally's father.
2 Polly Fishbourn, a young lady representative of a well-known Philadelphia family, and an intimate friend of Miss Sally. She was at Whitemarsh.
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them. Lee is not remarkable one way or the other ; Warring an insignifi- cant piece enough. Lee sings prettily, and talks a great deal ; how good turkey hash and fried hominy is (a pretty discourse to entertain the ladies), extols Virginia, and execrates Maryland, which, by-the-by, I provok'd them to ; for though I admire both Virginia and Maryland, I laugh'd at the former, and prais'd the latter. Ridiculed their manner of speaking. I took a great delight in teasing them. I believe I did it sometimes ill- natur'dly ; but I don't care. They were not, I am certain almost, first-rate gentlemen. (How different from our other officers.) But they are gone to Virginia, where they may sing, dance, and eat fry'd hominy and turkey hash all day long, if they choose. Nothing scarcely lowers a man, in my opinion, more than talking of eating, what they love, and what they hate. Lee and Warring were proficients in this science. Enough of them !
December 5th, SIXTH DAY.1
Oh, gracious ! Debby, I am all alive with fear. The English have come out to attack (as we imagine) our army, three miles this side .? What will become of us, only six miles distant ? We are in hourly expectation of an engagement. I fear we shall be in the midst of it. Heaven defend us from so dreadful a sight. The battle of Germantown, and the horrors of that day, are recent in my mind. It will be sufficiently dreadful, if we are only in hearing of the firing, to think how many of our fellow creatures are plung'd into the boundless ocean of eternity, few of them prepar'd to meet their fate. But they are summon'd before an all-merciful judge, from whom they have a great deal to hope.
SEVENTH DAY, December 6th.
No firing this morn. I hope for one more quiet day.
SEVENTH DAY, NOON, 4 o'clock.
I was much alarm'd just now, sitting in the parlour, indulging melan- choly reflections, when somebody burst open the door. "Sally, here's Major Stodard !" I jumped. Our conjectures were various concerning his coming, The poor fellow, from great fatigue and want of rest, together with being expos'd to the night air, had caught cold, which brought on a fever. He cou'd scarcely walk, and I went into aunt's to see him. I was
1 The dates are now accurate ; December 5th fell on Sixth-day,-Friday.
2 This was Howe's famous demonstration against Washington's position at White- marsh, which was fully expected to be a general battle. The British left the city on the afternoon of December 4th.
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surpris'd. Instead of the lively, alert, blooming Stodard, who was on his feet the instant we enter'd, he look'd pale, thin, and dejected, too weak to rise, and " How are you, Miss Sally ?" How does thee do, Major ?" I seated myself near him, inquir'd the cause of his indisposition, ask'd for the General, receiv'd his compliments. Not willing to fatigue him with too much chat, I bid him adieu. To-night Aunt H- F-, Sen'r,1 admin- ister'd something. Jesse assisted him to his chamber. He had not lain down five minutes before he was fast asleep. Adieu. I hope we shall enjoy a good night's rest.
FIRST DAY, MORN., December 7th.
I trip'd into aunt's. There sat the Major, rather more like himself. How natural it was to see him. "Good morning, Miss Sally." " Good morrow, Major, how does thee do to-day ?" " I feel quite recover'd, Sally." " Well, I fancy this indisposition has sav'd thy head this time." Major : " No, ma'am ; for if I hear a firing,2 I shall soon be with them." That was heroic. About eleven I dress'd myself, silk and cotton gown. It is made without an apron. I feel quite awkwardish, and prefer the girlish dress.
FIRST DAY, AFTERNOON.
A Mr. Seaton and Stodard drank tea with us. He and I had a little private chat after tea. In the even, Seaton went into aunt's ; mamma went to see Prissa, who is poorly ; papa withdrew to talk with some strangers. Liddy just then came in, so we engag'd in an agreeable conversation. I beg'd him to come and give us a circumstantial account of the battle, if there should be one. "I certainly will, ma'am, if I am favor'd with my life." Liddy, unluckily, took it into her head to blunder out something about a person being in the kitchen who had come from the army. Stod-
ard, ever anxious to hear, jump'd up. " Good night to you, ladies," was the word, and he disappeared, but not forever. "Liddy, thee hussy ; what business had thee to mention a word of the army ? Thee sees it sent him off. Thy evil genius prevail'd, and we all feel the effects of it." "Lord bless me," said Liddy, " I had not a thought of his going, or for ten thou- sand worlds I would not have spoke." But we cannot recall the past.
1 Hannah Foulke, widow of William.
2 Though no firing seems to have been heard, it was on this day that two severe skirmishes occurred between the armies,-one on Edge Hill, near Mooretown, and the other in Cheltenham, probably near Shoemakertown. There were a number killed, and many wounded.
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Well, we laugh'd and chatted at a noisy rate, till a summons for Liddy parted us. I sat .negligently on my chair, and thought brought thought, and I got so low spirited that I cou'd hardly speak. The dread of an engagement, the dreadful situation (if a battle should ensue) we should be in, join'd to my anxiety for P. F.1 and family, who would be in the midst of the scene, was the occasion. And yet I did not feel half so frighten'd as I expected to be. 'Tis amazing how we get reconciled to such things. Six months ago the bare idea of being within ten, ayes twenty miles, of a battle, wou'd almost have distracted me. And now, tho' two such large armies are within six miles of us, we can converse calmly of it. It verifies the old proverb, " Use is second nature."
I forgot one little piece of intelligence, in which the girls say I discov- er'd a particular partiality for our Marylanders, but I disclaim anything of the kind. These saucy creatures are forever finding out wonders, and for- ever metamorphosing mole-hills into mountains.
"Friendship I offer, pure and free ; And who, with such a friend as me, Could ask or wish for more ?"
" If they charg'd thee with vanity, Sally, it wou'd not be very un- just." Debby Norris ! be quiet ; no reflections, or I have done. "But the piece of intelligence, Sally !" [It] is just coming, Debby.
In the afternoon we heard platoon firing. Everybody was at the door ; I in the horrors. The armies, as we judg'd, were engag'd. Very compos'dly says the Major to our servant, " Will you be kind enough to saddle my horse ? I shall go !" Accordingly the horse was taken from the quiet, hos- pitable barn to plunge into the thickest ranks of war. Cruel change ! Sea- ton insisted to the Major that the armies were still ; " nothing but skirmish- ing with the flanking parties ; do not go." We happen'd (we girls I mean) to be standing in the kitchen, the Major passing thro' in a hurry, and I, forsooth, discover'd a strong partiality by saying, " Oh ! Major, thee is not going ! " He turn'd round, " Yes, I am, Miss Sally," bow'd, and went into the road ; we all pitied him ; the firing rather decreas'd ; and after persua- sions innumerable from my father and Seaton, and the firing over, he re- luctantly agreed to stay. Ill as he was, he would have gone. It show'd his bravery, of which we all believe him possess'd of a large share.
1 Polly Fishbourn.
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SECOND DAY, December 8th.
Rejoice with us, my dear. The British have return'd to the city.1 Charming this. May we ever be thankful to the Almighty Disposer of events for his care and protection of us while surrounded with dangers. Major went to the army. Nothing for him to do ; so returned.
Third or Fourth day, I forget which, he was very ill ; kept his chamber most of the day. In the evening I saw him. I pity him mightily, but pity is a poor remedy.
FIFTH DAY, December 11th.
Our army mov'd, as we thought, to go into winter quarters,2 but we hear there is a party of the enemy gone over Schuylkill ; so our army went to look at them.3 I observ'd to Stodard, " So you are going to leave us to the English." "Yes, ha ! ha ! ha ! leave you for the English." He has a certain indifference about him, that, to strangers, is not very pleasing. He sometimes is silent for minutes. One of these silent fits was interrupted the other day by his clasping his hands and exclaiming aloud, " Oh, my God, I wish this war was at an end ! "
NOON.
The Major gone to camp. I don't think we shall see him again. Well, strange creature that I am ; here have I been going on without giving thee an account of two officers,-one who will be a principal character ; their names are Capt. Lipscomb and a Mr. Tilly ; the former a tall, genteel man, very delicate from indisposition, and has a softness in his countenance that is very pleasing, and has the finest head of hair that I ever saw ; 'tis a light shining auburn. The fashion of his hair was this-negligently ty'd and waving down his back. Well may it be said,-
1 They reached Philadelphia on the evening of this day, plundering the farms between Edge Hill and the city, as they marched in.
2 Early in the morning of this day, 11th December, the camp at Whitemarsh was broken up, and the Americans marched (doubtless up the Skippack road to Broadaxe, and thence westward) to the ferry at Matson's Ford-now Conshohocken. The weather was cold, no snow had fallen, the roads were frozen, and those of the men who were barefoot left such crimson marks on the ground, that afterward Washington made the statement which has passed into history : " You might have tracked the army from Whitemarsh to Valley Forge by the blood of their feet."
3 This was a force under Cornwallis, 3,000 strong, that had gone out to collect food and forage in the Merions, and which, as unexpectedly to themselves as to the Ameri- cans, encountered Sullivan, at the head of the latter column, at the ford. There was no battle, however.
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" Loose flow'd the soft redundance of his hair."
He has not hitherto shown himself a lady's man, tho' he is perfectly polite.
Now let me attempt a character of Tilly. He seems a wild, noisy mortal, tho' I am not much acquainted with him. He appears bashful when with girls. We dissipated the Major's bashfulness ; but I doubt we have not so good a subject now. He is above the common size, rather genteel, an extreme pretty, ruddy face, hair brown, and a sufficiency of it, a very great laugher, and talks so excessively fast that he oftens begins a sentence without finishing the last, which confuses him very much, and then he blushes and laughs ; and in short, he keeps me in perpetual good humour ; but the creature has not address'd one civil thing to me since he came. But I have not done with his accomplishments yet, for he is a mu- sician,-that is, he plays on the German flute, and has it here.
FIFTH DAY, NIGHT.
The family retir'd ; take the adventures of the afternoon as they oc- cur'd. Seaton and Captain Lipscomb drank tea with us. While we sat at tea, the parlour door was open'd ; in came Tilly ; his appearance was ele- gant ; he had been riding ; the wind had given the most beautiful glow to his cheeks, and blow'd his hair carelessly round his cheeks. Oh, my heart, thought I, be secure ! The caution was needless, I found it without a wish to stray.
When the tea equipage was remov'd, the conversation turned on poli- ticks, a subject I avoid. I gave Betsy a hint. I rose, she followed, and we went to seek Lyddy. We chatted a few moments at the door. The moon shone with uncommon splendour. Our spirits were high. I pro- posed a walk ; the girls agreed. When we reach'd the poplar tree, we stopp'd. Our ears were assail'd by a number of voices. "A party of light horse," said one. "The English, perhaps ; let's run home." " No, no," said I, " be heroines." At last two or three men on horseback came in sight. We walked on. The well-known voice of the Major saluted our hearing with, " How do you do, ladies." We turn'd ourselves about with one accord. He, not relishing the idea of sleeping on the banks of the Schuylkill, had return'd to the mill. We chatted along the road till we reach'd our hospitable mansion. Stodard dismounted, and went into Jesse's parlour. I sat there a half hour. He is very amiable. Lipscomb,
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Seaton, Tilly, and my father, hearing of his return, and impatient for the news, came in at one door, while I made my exit at the other.
I am vex'd at Tilly, who has his flute, and does nothing but play the fool. He begins a tune, plays a note or so, then stops. Well, after a while, he begins again ; stops again. " Will that do, Seaton ? Hah ! hah ! hah !" He has given us but two regular tunes since he arriv'd. I am passionately fond of music. How boyish he behaves.
SIXTH DAY, December 12th, 1777.
I ran into aunt's this morning to chat with the girls. Major Stodard join'd us in a few minutes. I verily believe the man is fond of the ladies, and, what to me is astonishing, he has not display'd the smallest degree of pride. Whether he is artful enough to conceal it under the veil of hu- mility, or whether he has none, is a question ; but I am inclined to think it the latter. I really am of opinion that there are few of the young fellows of the modern age exempt from vanity, more especially those who are bless'd with exterior graces. If they have a fine pair of eyes, they are forever rolling them about ; a fine set of teeth, mind, they are great laugh- ers ; a genteel person, forever changing their attitudes to show them to advantage. Oh, vanity, vanity ; how boundless is thy sway !
But to resume this interview with Major Stodard. We were very witty and sprightly. I was darning an apron, upon which he was pleas'd to compliment me. " Well, Miss Sally, what would you do if the British were to come here?" " Do," exclaimed I ; "be frighten'd just to death." He laugh'd, and said he would escape their rage by getting behind the representation of a British grenadier that you have upstairs. " Of all things, I should like to frighten Tilly with it. Pray, ladies, let's fix it in his cham- ber to-night." "If thee will take all the blame, we will assist thee." " That I will," he replied, and this was the plan. We had brought some weeks ago a British grenadier from Uncle Miles's on purpose to divert us. It is remarkably well executed, six feet high, and makes a martial appearance.1 This we agreed to stand at the door that opens into the road (the house has four rooms on a floor, with a wide entry running through), with another figure, that would add to the deceit. One of our servants was to stand behind them , others were to serve as occasion offer'd. After half an
1 This figure is still preserved, and stands (1884) in the hall of Mr. Charles J. Wister's residence at Germantown.
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hour's converse, in which we raised our expectations to the highest pitch, we parted. If our scheme answers, I shall communicate it in the eve. Till then, adieu.
SIXTH DAY, NIGHT.
Never did I more sincerely wish to possess a descriptive genius than I do now. All that I can write will fall infinitely short of the truly diverting scene that I have been witness of to-night. But, as I mean to attempt an account, I had as well shorten the preface, and begin the story.
In the beginning of the evening I went to Liddy and beg'd her to se- cure the swords and pistols which were in their parlour. The Marylander, hearing our voices, joined us. I told him of our proposal. Whether he thought it a good one or not I can't say, but he approv'd of it, and Liddy went in and brought her apron full of swords and pistols. When this was done, Stodard join'd the officers. We girls went and stood at the first land- ing of the stairs. The gentlemen were very merry, and chatting on public affairs, when Seaton's negro (observe that Seaton, being indisposed, was appriz'd of the scheme) open'd the door, candle in hand, and said, " There's somebody at the door that wishes to see you." " Who ? All of us?" said Tilly. "Yes, sir," said the boy. They all rose (the Major, as he said afterwards, almost dying with laughter), and walked into the entry, Tilly first, in full expection of news. The first object that struck his view was a British soldier. In a moment his ears were saluted, " Is there any rebel officers here ? " in a thundering voice. Not waiting for a second word, he darted like lightning out of the front door, through the yard, bolted o'er the fence. Swamps, fences, thorn-hedges,1 and plough'd fields no way im- peded his retreat. He was soon out of hearing. The woods echoed with, " Which way did he go ? Stop him ! Surround the house !" The amiable Lipscomb had his hand on the latch of the door, intending to make his es- cape ; Stodard, considering his indisposition, acquainted him with the deceit. We females ran down stairs to join in the general laugh. I walked into Jesse's parlour. There sat poor Stodard (whose sore lips must have re- ceiv'd no advantage from this), almost convuls'd with laughing, rolling in an arm-chair. He said nothing ; I believe he could not have spoke. " Major Stodard," said I, " go to call Tilly back. He will lose himself,- indeed he will ; " every word interrupted with a " Ha ! ha !" At last he
1 This fixes the fact that the thorn-hedges which for many years divided a number of field and farms, about Penllyn, had been planted before the Revolution.
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rose, and went to the door ; and what a loud voice could avail in bringing him back, he tried. Figure to thyself this Tilly, of a snowy evening, no hat, shoes down at the heel, hair unty'd, flying across meadows, creeks, and mud-holes. Flying from what ? Why, a bit of painted wood. But he was ignorant of what it was. The idea of being made a prisoner wholly en- grossed his mind, and his last resource was to run.
After a while, we being in more composure, and our bursts of laughter less frequent, yet by no means subsided,-in full assembly of girls and officers,-Tilly enter'd. The greatest part of my risibility turn'd to pity. Inexpressible confusion had taken entire possession of his countenance, his fine hair hanging dishevell'd down his shoulders, all splashed with mud ; yet his bright confusion and race had not divested him of his beauty. He smil'd as he trip'd up the steps ; but 'twas vexation plac'd it on his features. Joy at that moment was banished from his heart. He briskly walked five or six steps, then stop'd, and took a general survey of us all. " Where have you been, Mr. Tilly ? " ask'd one officer. (We girls were silent.) " I really imagin'd," said Major Stodard, " that you were gone for your pis- tols. I follow'd you to prevent danger,"-an excessive laugh at each ques- tion, which it was impossible to restrain. "Pray, where were your pistols, Tilly ?" He broke his silence by the following expression : " You may all go to the D-l." I never heard him utter an indecent expression before.
At last his good nature gain'd a complete ascendance over his anger, and he join'd heartily in the laugh. I will do him the justice to say that he bore it charmingly. No cowardly threats, no vengeance denounced. Stodard caught hold of his coat. "Come, look at what you ran away from," and drag'd him to the door. He gave it a look, said it was very natural, and, by the singularity of his expressions, gave fresh cause for diversion. We all retir'd to our different parlours, for the rest of our faces, if I may say so.
Well, certainly, these military folks will laugh all night. Such scream- ing I never did hear. Adieu to-night.
December 13th.
I am fearful they will yet carry the joke too far. Tilly certainly pos- sesses an uncommon share of good nature, or he could not tolerate these frequent teazings. Ah, Deborah, the Major is going to leave us entirely- just going. I will see him first.
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SEVENTH DAY, NOON.
He has gone. I saw him pass the bridge. The woods which you enter immediately after crossing it, hinder'd us from following him further. l seem to fancy he will return in the evening.
SEVENTH DAY, NIGHT.
Stodard not come back. We shall not, I fancy, see him again for months, perhaps for years, unless he should visit Philadelphia. We shall miss his agreeable company. But what shall we make of Tilly ? No civil things yet from him. Adieu to-night, my dear.
December 14th.
The officers yet here. No talk of their departure. They are very lively. Tilly's retreat the occasion ; the principal one, at least.
FIRST DAY, NIGHT.
Captain Lipscomb, Seaton, and Tilly, with cousin H. M.,1 dined with us to-day. Such an everlasting bore as Tilly I never knew. He caused us a good deal of diversion while we sat at table. He said not a syllable to one of us young ladies since Sixth-day eve. He tells Lipscomb that the Major had the assistance of the ladies in the execution of the scheme. He tells a truth.
About four o'clock I was standing at the door, leaning my head on my hand, when a genteel officer rode up to the gate and dismounted. "Your servant, ma'am," and gave me the compliment of his hat. Went into aunt's. I went into our parlour. Soon Seaton was call'd. Many minutes had not elapsed before he enter'd with the young fellow whom I had just seen. Heintroduced him by the name of Captain Smallwood. We seated ourselves. I then had an opportunity of seeing him. He is a brother to General Smallwood. A very genteel, pretty little fellow, very modest, and seems agreeable, but no personal resemblance between him and the Major. After tea, turning to Tilly, he said, " So, sir, I have heard you had like to have been taken prisoner last Friday night." "Pray, sir, who informed you ?" " Major Stodard was my author." " I fancy he made a fine tale of it. How far did he say I ran ?" "Two miles ; and that you fell into the mill-pond !" He rais'd his eyes and hands, and exclaimed, " What a confounded falsehood." The whole affair was again reviv'd. Our Tillian here gave a mighty droll account of his "retreat," as they call it. He
1 Cousin Hannah Miles, daughter of Colonel Miles.
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